Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-11-02
MAR MEMORIES.
A Mississippi 0olonel's "Reminiscences In
Camp, On Guard and In
the Field.
Kentucky Expsrispcss--The Sort Of Life
the Soldier Saw Most 0f-.Amus-
ing Incidents.

L
nent in most of the war stories; and
yet, to the actors themselves, the every
day life of the soldier was by TAR the
most dramatic. More men we're killed
and disabled by disease and exposure
than by shot and shell, and more hero
ism was displayed in patient endurance
of the hardship of camp life than in
charging batteries. This life had its
humorous side as well as its serious
one. War is an impressive school and
its lessons are not easily forgotten.
| My first service was in the fall and
winter of 1861, at Columbus, KY, when
Gen. Polk held that post. To the great
surprise of our ruling statesmen, no
doubt, the Southern Confederacy had
not yet achieved its independence. The
war had already lasted nine months,
whereas ford orators had assured us
before it began there would be no war
at all. To increase these disappoint
ments the half million or so Northern
Democrats. who were to help us Gas
we were informed), had failed to put
in an appearance. On the contrary,
many of them, like our old friend Ben
Butler. were in arms against us. We
had, moreover, been taught to believe
that che Yankees were money-Ioving,
mechanical sort of people and not at all
warlike. Indeed, it was the current be-
lief at that time, that one average de-
scendant of the cavaliers could easily
thrash half dozen of them any fine
morning before breakfast. At Manas-
sas this faith was, in measure con-
firmed; but it had been rudely shaken
at Donaldson and Henry.
At this juncture of affairs call was
made on several states for recruits for
sixty days, to reinforce Gen. Albert
Sidney Johnston, who commanded the
western armies of the Confederacy,
and the writer was with the Mississippi
contingent sent to Columbus, Ken
lucky. Here began my first expert
ence in camp life-an experience that
continued, with little interruption, for
not only sixty days, but three years
and half besides. On reaching Col
umbus tents were pitched, blankets
spread upon the frozen ground 1--WE had
them in plenty then), and we sat down
quietly for garrison duty. This was
pleasant enough, and patriotic fervor
was intense, despite the cold weather.
Strolling along the post one day I saw
a stout gentleman, pick in hand, en-
deavoring to make an impression on
the frozen earth. He was one of de-
tail charged with the duty of making
a ''sink'' for his brigade headquarters.
He was sweating, d. spite the cold, and
swearing at an awful rate. He had
never BACKED his own boots or sad
died his own horse, he growled. "He
had come out to fight Yankees, and
here he was digging id sink for a
general no better than himself" The
first volunteers of the south were
mainly from the elite of southern So
ciety, and were quite the equals OF
those who commanded them in wealth,
intelligence and refinement. The les
son our tat friend was learning was
one speedily taught us all in detail.
/ In q hn 40 l.
of Columbus, and distant twenty five
miles, called Camp Beauregard. It
was about forty miles south of Padu-
cab, then held by the federals. Here
we found comfortable cabins already
built, abundance of provisions in the
country, and began housekeeping anew
under very favorable conditions. AS a
defense against thu enemy, who might
attack at any time, some agricultural
officer caused two parallel worm fences,
s'staked and ridered," as we call them
here, to be built across an open field in
our front. IN farm parlance, this fence
was .'bull strong and horse high" but
the effect of the enemy's artillery on
people behind it may readily be imag-
ined. One night we were called to
arms by report that the enemy was
coming-in fact, was already upon us.
Ont we tumbled, pell-mell, and nv
company being armed with Sharpe's
rifles, our captain, solid, sensible old
planter, asked and obtained permission
to post US, as skirmishers, some half
mile in front of our Qualifications. :"
When asked afterward why he thus
sought the forefront of the expected
battle, he replied that he wished to get
on the safe side of that id fence.
well remember one fellow, a fine
soldier, too, who scorned the burden
Of even blanket on the march, ar SO
at night, when he failed to steal one
| (Which was seidom), he sat up by the
fire and made the night hideous with
mock sermons OF wonderful theology
and doubtful morality. Strange to
say, he survived the war, and is now
enlisted in the army of the Lord. At
Vicksburg this same preacher was re-
sponsible for a ready retort under try.
ing circumstances. He was then q
firm Calvinist, and was already to do
battle in defence of his creed. One
day he was sitting with group in
an angle of The works discussing his
favorite dogma of predestination. just
then shell - .'oded among them and
knocked The r2tlestlnarian over with.
out hurting hiu. When he recovered
his breath AID legs he darted off for
the shelter at }, Traverse inst in front of